A judge has rejected a pro-life challenge to home abortions, but the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) says it is considering an appeal.
SPUC has argued that the Scottish Government’s policy is “unlawful” and trivialises abortion.
However, Lady Wise ruled against the group today following a two-day hearing at the Court of Session earlier this year.
Disappointed
Since October, Scottish women have been able to take the abortion drug misoprostol without oversight from doctors after a change in policy from Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer.
Responding to the ruling, John Deighan, chief executive of SPUC Scotland, said the group was “extremely disappointed”.
“Our position remains the same despite this judgement.
“For the sake of women’s health and the universal right to life we cannot stand idly by whilst such a detrimental measure is implemented in the name of health care”, he added.
Alarmed
Deighan said the group would give “thorough consideration of the judgement” but is set to appeal the decision: “Discussions have already started with our legal representatives.”
He described the Scottish Government’s policy as trivialising the “terrible ordeal that medical abortion inflicts on women”.
“We continue to be alarmed at the Scottish Government’s policies to liberalise abortion, this is hard to square with their other commitments on health and human rights.”
No consultation
Medical abortions involve taking two tablets – mifepristone, which kills the developing baby, and misoprostol which induces a miscarriage to expel it from the womb.
Since Scotland’s move – which was introduced without parliamentary scrutiny or public consultation – there have been calls for a similar change in England and Wales.